Should Northwest hospitals ban patient smoking altogether on hospital property?
23 Comments
Duke said:
Absolutely, a hospital is a place for unhealthy people, and new borns, lets up our standard on health issues for once, and overexaggerate the importance of others peoples health by protecting their rights.
Blaine said:
I believe that if a patient is well enough to get up out of their hopital bed and go outside to smoke, they are well enough to go home. Free that bed up for someone who is sick.
jan said:
This is a no brainer! I applaud the hospital with a standing ovation! Why shouldn't the stay in the hospital be a healthy experience from start to end? I have been dumbstruck and irritated by having to walk through smoke to get into healthcare facilities. What is even more amazing to me is that most of the people who have been smoking at these times of my observation were healthcare workers themselves! Ironic. I hope this hospital doesn't allow it's workers to smoke on location as well.
B Taylor said:
Yes, smoking should absolutely be banned. As a person with controlled asthma that can be triggered by a breathing a"puff" of cigarette smoke, I understand the danger that smoke can pose to those with compromised health. Hospital grounds should be free of dangers like smoke that pose serious health risks to others. I don't think most smokers understand what it is like to suddenly be fighting to breathe just because of someone else's smoke.
Anonymous said:
I THINK THAT A PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SMOKE IF HE IS PAYING THE BIG PRICE .THERE ARE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO DO NOT PAY ANYTHING US TAX PAYERS DO ;SO THEREFOR IF HE OR SHE IS PAYING FOR THERE STAY;AND I BELEIVE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SMOKE.AFTER ALL WHAT HAPPENED TO PATIENT;S RIGHTS .THEY ARE STEPPING OUT OF BOUNDS.
Anonymous said:
I THINK THAT A PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SMOKE IF HE IS PAYING THE BIG PRICE .THERE ARE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO DO NOT PAY ANYTHING US TAX PAYERS DO ;SO THEREFOR IF HE OR SHE IS PAYING FOR THERE STAY;AND I BELEIVE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SMOKE.AFTER ALL WHAT HAPPENED TO PATIENT;S RIGHTS .THEY ARE STEPPING OUT OF BOUNDS.
susan_nelson43 said:
Smokers have just as much rights as non-smokers. As long as they do it in a designed smoking place.
Matt said:
Absolutely, if a smoker is well enough to go outside for a cigarette then they are well enough to go home. I’m someone who is deathly allergic to cigarette smoke and I’m glade there is finally a hospital I could go to without having to hold my breath 50 ft before I enter because of smokers smoking in a non-smoking area.
Anonymous said:
I think N.W. hospital should have a vote and see who wins I really think the smokers would win by 80percent and patients by 90 percent.
Anonymous said:
THESE NON SMOKERS ARE REALLY SOMETHING; BUT I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME IN A CASINO AND GAMBLING AND THAT DOESN;T SEEM TO BOTHER THEM AT THAT TIME. SO I BELEIVE LET THE SMOKERS HAVE A PLACE TO SMOKE ;THEY DO NOT BOTHER ANYBODY,AND THE PATIENTS ARE ALSO RELAXED FOR THE DAY.IT;S SUPPOST TO BE THERE RIGHT. NOT THE HOSPITAL TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO THESE ARE ADULTS NOT BABIES.
Anonymous said:
HEY i HAVE A GREAT IDEA PUT THE NON SMOKERS ON ONE SIDE OF THE HOSPITAL AND SMOKERS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SEE HOW MANY PATIENTS YOU GET GREAT IDEA AND MAYBE THAT WOULD WORK SIGNS ARE CHEAP NON SMOKERS THIS WAY AND SMOKERS OTHER WAY.
Jamie said:
I think totaly banding it is going a little to far, dont get me wrong, I work at a hostpital and have to walk by "The Smoking Section" just to enter the hospital so maybe the hospitals could set a side a place away from the general public and let the paitients go there.
~Jamie
Anonymous said:
Why stop at smoking?
Ban ALL unhealthy activity.
No unhealthy food, no sugary soft drinks, make everyone get 8 hours of sleep, and add a mandatory boot camp style exercise program.
Another example of the growing NANNY mentality.
Force everyone to conform to your idea of what is right.
Thank God (can I say that?) I am getting out of this liberal cesspool.
I do not smoke by the way.
Saera said:
Just because youre a patient there that goes outside, following the rules and having a cigarette well away from any doors, windows or even on campus; theyre going to say youre discharged against medical judgement or whatever phrase they used? Whats with this? Is it even legal?
I fully support the no smoking on hospital grounds, no one should be forced to be around smoke, and especially the sick should be kept from any extra strains on the body. But if a person chooses to leave their room to smoke (while leaving your room to chat with family off campus is presumably ok) they get discharged, regardless of their need to be at the hospital? I can understand this in situations where one is undergoing surgery and must not smoke for at least x days prior to aid in healing and safety of anisthetics and such, or with those with mouth, throat or lung disease, but for anyone else, the rule just seems to be very much violating a persons freedoms and rights.
I'll make sure not to go to that particular hospital should i ever need to be in a hospital, regardless of whether i'm a smoker or not.
Mike said:
Like it or not, smokers are citizens with rights that have already been trampled on far more than those of illegal aliens. Accomodation can be made with proper ventilation so as not to expose others to second hand smoke. It is always easy to push new laws onto minorities, thus taxing or imposing fines on small groups that do not fit into the most popular social circles.
Ginger said:
Seems like when a person is sick enough to be in a hospital, adding the stress of not being able to smoke to one with a significant habit would place an unnecessary burden on that person. Smoking, though bad for you is NOT illigal and people who have chosen to smoke should not be denied that choice. Reasonable provision should be made for them. They can deal with stopping smoking when they are well and better able to handle THAT stress. No, I have never smoked but have worked in hospitals over 20 years--and have wheeled smokers outside so they could smoke.
Astra said:
What's next? Banning overweight patients because they ate themselves into bad health? Refusing to treat those who drink alcohol? Refusing motocycle riders? Banning sugar, fat, salt and anything else that could have a detrimental effect on health?
I will never defend smoking. We all know it is unhealthy. But then, we all also know that alcohol is unhealthy. We know that eating too much is unhealthy. It seems like it is OK to judge people by their habits. It also seems that this country is working towards removing as many rights from the citizens as they can. I guess we have all forgotten the lessons of the past, and will end up with a country that closely resembles one we fought a generation ago.
Loretta said:
I am not a smoker, but I do feel for the smokers. They have had ALL THEIR RIGHTS taken away from them. They only have rights in their own home. It is the same with cell-phones while driving. I do not drive, but I also see women putting on makeup while driving, hamburger in one hand and drink in another. I guess the third hand is driving.
I agree with what the person said before me--divide the hospital in half for smokers and non smokers. The smoking staff can take care of smokers and non-smokers can take care of non-smokers.
I have lived around smokers all my life and DO NOT have cancer. I am 74 yeas old.
SMOKERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO
Loretta said:
I am not a smoker, but I do feel for the smokers. They have had ALL THEIR RIGHTS taken away from them. They only have rights in their own home. It is the same with cell-phones while driving. I do not drive, but I also see women putting on makeup while driving, hamburger in one hand and drink in another. I guess the third hand is driving.
I agree with what the person said before me--divide the hospital in half for smokers and non smokers. The smoking staff can take care of smokers and non-smokers can take care of non-smokers.
I have lived around smokers all my life and DO NOT have cancer. I am 74 yeas old.
SMOKERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO
Loretta said:
I am not a smoker, but I do feel for the smokers. They have had ALL THEIR RIGHTS taken away from them. They only have rights in their own home. It is the same with cell-phones while driving. I do not drive, but I also see women putting on makeup while driving, hamburger in one hand and drink in another. I guess the third hand is driving.
I agree with what the person said before me--divide the hospital in half for smokers and non smokers. The smoking staff can take care of smokers and non-smokers can take care of non-smokers.
I have lived around smokers all my life and DO NOT have cancer. I am 74 yeas old.
SMOKERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO
Dennis said:
I get so sick and tired of the so called righeous NON-SMOKERS who cough when they see someone smoking 200 ft away down wind! You will find them in the smoking section of the Casino's and used to be in the bars too and not complain. I was a smoker, been off cigs for 18 months but do not want every last right of smokers taken away. I say, mind your own business, quit making stupid laws and regulations and imposing your values on the rest of the population.
P.S. Do you think only non-smokers pay property taxes to support the hospital??? If you do, you have been smoking something a lot stronger than cigarettes!!!
johanna huft said:
Sure ban the smokers who are paying through taxes to be there......they should ban them only if they are willing to provide the populous free guaranteed quit help....weather by patches pills or potion........and for the record they should be taxing the druggies the whores the gays the extreme sport participants drinkers and any one else who is driving up healthcare costs for reasons they could prevent........
Bev said:
I can't believe this is even a question. Of course smoking should be banned. It is proven to be a health hazard. We are talking about hospitals aren't we?
I do feel sorry for smokers. They have an addiction just like any other drug addict. They need help to stop, not encouragement to continue.
Absolutely, a hospital is a place for unhealthy people, and new borns, lets up our standard on health issues for once, and overexaggerate the importance of others peoples health by protecting their rights.
I believe that if a patient is well enough to get up out of their hopital bed and go outside to smoke, they are well enough to go home. Free that bed up for someone who is sick.
This is a no brainer! I applaud the hospital with a standing ovation! Why shouldn't the stay in the hospital be a healthy experience from start to end? I have been dumbstruck and irritated by having to walk through smoke to get into healthcare facilities. What is even more amazing to me is that most of the people who have been smoking at these times of my observation were healthcare workers themselves! Ironic. I hope this hospital doesn't allow it's workers to smoke on location as well.
Yes, smoking should absolutely be banned. As a person with controlled asthma that can be triggered by a breathing a"puff" of cigarette smoke, I understand the danger that smoke can pose to those with compromised health. Hospital grounds should be free of dangers like smoke that pose serious health risks to others. I don't think most smokers understand what it is like to suddenly be fighting to breathe just because of someone else's smoke.
I THINK THAT A PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SMOKE IF HE IS PAYING THE BIG PRICE .THERE ARE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO DO NOT PAY ANYTHING US TAX PAYERS DO ;SO THEREFOR IF HE OR SHE IS PAYING FOR THERE STAY;AND I BELEIVE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SMOKE.AFTER ALL WHAT HAPPENED TO PATIENT;S RIGHTS .THEY ARE STEPPING OUT OF BOUNDS.
I THINK THAT A PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SMOKE IF HE IS PAYING THE BIG PRICE .THERE ARE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO DO NOT PAY ANYTHING US TAX PAYERS DO ;SO THEREFOR IF HE OR SHE IS PAYING FOR THERE STAY;AND I BELEIVE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SMOKE.AFTER ALL WHAT HAPPENED TO PATIENT;S RIGHTS .THEY ARE STEPPING OUT OF BOUNDS.
Smokers have just as much rights as non-smokers. As long as they do it in a designed smoking place.
Absolutely, if a smoker is well enough to go outside for a cigarette then they are well enough to go home. I’m someone who is deathly allergic to cigarette smoke and I’m glade there is finally a hospital I could go to without having to hold my breath 50 ft before I enter because of smokers smoking in a non-smoking area.
I think N.W. hospital should have a vote and see who wins I really think the smokers would win by 80percent and patients by 90 percent.
THESE NON SMOKERS ARE REALLY SOMETHING; BUT I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME IN A CASINO AND GAMBLING AND THAT DOESN;T SEEM TO BOTHER THEM AT THAT TIME. SO I BELEIVE LET THE SMOKERS HAVE A PLACE TO SMOKE ;THEY DO NOT BOTHER ANYBODY,AND THE PATIENTS ARE ALSO RELAXED FOR THE DAY.IT;S SUPPOST TO BE THERE RIGHT. NOT THE HOSPITAL TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO THESE ARE ADULTS NOT BABIES.
HEY i HAVE A GREAT IDEA PUT THE NON SMOKERS ON ONE SIDE OF THE HOSPITAL AND SMOKERS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SEE HOW MANY PATIENTS YOU GET GREAT IDEA AND MAYBE THAT WOULD WORK SIGNS ARE CHEAP NON SMOKERS THIS WAY AND SMOKERS OTHER WAY.
I think totaly banding it is going a little to far, dont get me wrong, I work at a hostpital and have to walk by "The Smoking Section" just to enter the hospital so maybe the hospitals could set a side a place away from the general public and let the paitients go there.
~Jamie
Why stop at smoking?
Ban ALL unhealthy activity.
No unhealthy food, no sugary soft drinks, make everyone get 8 hours of sleep, and add a mandatory boot camp style exercise program.
Another example of the growing NANNY mentality.
Force everyone to conform to your idea of what is right.
Thank God (can I say that?) I am getting out of this liberal cesspool.
I do not smoke by the way.
Just because youre a patient there that goes outside, following the rules and having a cigarette well away from any doors, windows or even on campus; theyre going to say youre discharged against medical judgement or whatever phrase they used? Whats with this? Is it even legal?
I fully support the no smoking on hospital grounds, no one should be forced to be around smoke, and especially the sick should be kept from any extra strains on the body. But if a person chooses to leave their room to smoke (while leaving your room to chat with family off campus is presumably ok) they get discharged, regardless of their need to be at the hospital? I can understand this in situations where one is undergoing surgery and must not smoke for at least x days prior to aid in healing and safety of anisthetics and such, or with those with mouth, throat or lung disease, but for anyone else, the rule just seems to be very much violating a persons freedoms and rights.
I'll make sure not to go to that particular hospital should i ever need to be in a hospital, regardless of whether i'm a smoker or not.
Like it or not, smokers are citizens with rights that have already been trampled on far more than those of illegal aliens. Accomodation can be made with proper ventilation so as not to expose others to second hand smoke. It is always easy to push new laws onto minorities, thus taxing or imposing fines on small groups that do not fit into the most popular social circles.
Seems like when a person is sick enough to be in a hospital, adding the stress of not being able to smoke to one with a significant habit would place an unnecessary burden on that person. Smoking, though bad for you is NOT illigal and people who have chosen to smoke should not be denied that choice. Reasonable provision should be made for them. They can deal with stopping smoking when they are well and better able to handle THAT stress. No, I have never smoked but have worked in hospitals over 20 years--and have wheeled smokers outside so they could smoke.
What's next? Banning overweight patients because they ate themselves into bad health? Refusing to treat those who drink alcohol? Refusing motocycle riders? Banning sugar, fat, salt and anything else that could have a detrimental effect on health?
I will never defend smoking. We all know it is unhealthy. But then, we all also know that alcohol is unhealthy. We know that eating too much is unhealthy. It seems like it is OK to judge people by their habits. It also seems that this country is working towards removing as many rights from the citizens as they can. I guess we have all forgotten the lessons of the past, and will end up with a country that closely resembles one we fought a generation ago.
I am not a smoker, but I do feel for the smokers. They have had ALL THEIR RIGHTS taken away from them. They only have rights in their own home. It is the same with cell-phones while driving. I do not drive, but I also see women putting on makeup while driving, hamburger in one hand and drink in another. I guess the third hand is driving.
I agree with what the person said before me--divide the hospital in half for smokers and non smokers. The smoking staff can take care of smokers and non-smokers can take care of non-smokers.
I have lived around smokers all my life and DO NOT have cancer. I am 74 yeas old.
SMOKERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO
I am not a smoker, but I do feel for the smokers. They have had ALL THEIR RIGHTS taken away from them. They only have rights in their own home. It is the same with cell-phones while driving. I do not drive, but I also see women putting on makeup while driving, hamburger in one hand and drink in another. I guess the third hand is driving.
I agree with what the person said before me--divide the hospital in half for smokers and non smokers. The smoking staff can take care of smokers and non-smokers can take care of non-smokers.
I have lived around smokers all my life and DO NOT have cancer. I am 74 yeas old.
SMOKERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO
I am not a smoker, but I do feel for the smokers. They have had ALL THEIR RIGHTS taken away from them. They only have rights in their own home. It is the same with cell-phones while driving. I do not drive, but I also see women putting on makeup while driving, hamburger in one hand and drink in another. I guess the third hand is driving.
I agree with what the person said before me--divide the hospital in half for smokers and non smokers. The smoking staff can take care of smokers and non-smokers can take care of non-smokers.
I have lived around smokers all my life and DO NOT have cancer. I am 74 yeas old.
SMOKERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO
I get so sick and tired of the so called righeous NON-SMOKERS who cough when they see someone smoking 200 ft away down wind! You will find them in the smoking section of the Casino's and used to be in the bars too and not complain. I was a smoker, been off cigs for 18 months but do not want every last right of smokers taken away. I say, mind your own business, quit making stupid laws and regulations and imposing your values on the rest of the population.
P.S. Do you think only non-smokers pay property taxes to support the hospital??? If you do, you have been smoking something a lot stronger than cigarettes!!!
Sure ban the smokers who are paying through taxes to be there......they should ban them only if they are willing to provide the populous free guaranteed quit help....weather by patches pills or potion........and for the record they should be taxing the druggies the whores the gays the extreme sport participants drinkers and any one else who is driving up healthcare costs for reasons they could prevent........
I can't believe this is even a question. Of course smoking should be banned. It is proven to be a health hazard. We are talking about hospitals aren't we?
I do feel sorry for smokers. They have an addiction just like any other drug addict. They need help to stop, not encouragement to continue.